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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: firm · foot · craft · track · rush · bear · lie · key

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. rush — hurry
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. track — a song
  5. key — in music
  6. track — to keep track
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. key — the most important part
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. key — for a lock
  13. firm — steady
  14. craft — boats
  15. firm — a company
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. firm — decided
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. bear — the animal
  20. track — a path
  21. bear — the animal
  22. lie — to recline
  23. craft — a skill
  24. foot — a measure

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com